It’s my cats’ world and I just live in it

She Knows

2 месяцев

I have three cats. Just like any kids would be, they are completely different from each other. But a feline fur baby is different from a human baby. And if you ignore something that's key to a cat's world, you're bound to hear about it. My oldest female, Sky, throws things off counters. Finn, my only male cat, will stare at me and refuse to move when I call him. My youngest cat, Ariel, will just sit there and meow very loudly — even if it’s 1 a.m.

But I don't care. Any cat lover knows that it's a cat's world, and we just live in it. They may be more independent than other pets, but keep them happy and they will love you like no other. Here's what you need to know about your cat's world that's different than you may think.

Image: Yolanda Machado/SheKnows

Sleep is critical to cats

Cats not only love to sleep, but it's a huge part of their lives. Adult cats need about 16 hours a day to stay healthy — usually in a warm spot, like a ray of sunlight, beside a heater, or on your head or lap, because they need to keep their temperature at around 102 degrees. I'm delighted to cuddle with my sleeping cat, but I also keep my house cozy with cat beds in prime spots in each room to make sure they're happy.

Her litter box is way more important than you think

Cats are more sensitive to smell than we are, and they're closer to the ground than we are, too. The litter box is a huge priority to cats, and should be cleaned at least once or twice a day to keep their noses happy (and yours, too). However, did you know bacterial odors can keep growing even after you scoop? Luckily, there’s ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™ MicroGuard Cat Litter for that.

ARM & HAMMER™ recognizes the bond between pet and owner, and developed MicroGuard™ Cat Litter to solve this litter box pain point. Heavy-duty odor eliminators plus ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda destroys immediate odors on contact, and MicroGuard™ technology actually prevents the growth of future bacterial odors for 7-day odor control, guaranteed. MicroGuard™ allows you to stop worrying about litter box odors and get back to what matters most – quality time with your feline friend!

Playtime is more than fun and games

If your fur babies want to play, you play. They will pounce on your toes, run from you when you walk to them and then run back, or bring you leaves and drop them at your feet. And though it looks like a fun game of tag, anyone who's seen a house cat stalk a feathery or furry toy, or even a laser beam, can tell that this is hunting behavior. And those boxes they love to jump in and out of? That might be the most adorable stalking you'll ever see (or it might be them getting cozy and warm, too — cats and boxes are just a perfect match all around).

It's a cat's natural instinct to want to practice these behaviors every day, so at least 10-15 minutes of daily playtime will keep your cat in good spirits. Invest in several different toys and keep them out of sight except during playtime, because cats can definitely get bored with the same old toys. In fact, you may have to accept that your hair is a toy, too: Sky loves to sit behind me on the couch and eat my hair. Some cats like to play and nuzzle in your hair because it makes them happy, and it's also a way for them to show love.

They're not angry when they scratch stuff

In a cat's world, they're all little hunters and they need to keep those claws sharp. So scratching is and should be a part of their lives, and they won't get that your beautiful furniture is off limits. Scratching allows cats to get a good stretch, keep their claws trimmed and even mark their territory. Make sure they have many scratching posts in each room (just like with toys, cats can get bored with just one thing), and then you can redirect them whenever they go after something inappropriate.

They love to perch on things

I wish I could ask them exactly why they perch, but it's clear that climbing up high is a huge part of the world according to cats. People say it could be that the height makes them feel safe, since it was a good way to escape predators in the wild, or it could be that it gives them a little more personal space. Either way, I try to make sure my kitties have plenty of places to go up high — whether it's on a shelf, furniture or a special cat tree just for them. If they can look out the window at the world going by from their perch, all the better.

There is absolutely nothing that can compare to your cat purring and kneading you as you cuddle, or jumping up to you to butt your head, or twitching their tails in excitement when you're around. All these behaviors show true love in a cat's world. This is why you keep them happy, keep their little boxes clean and don't mind when they don't listen.